All you need to know about CVSA yearly safety inspections.

Is an annual high-visibility initiative focusing on inspecting commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) across North America. It’s a collaborative effort between law enforcement personnel, industry representatives, and safety officials. Their primary goal is to prevent commercial motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities by ensuring compliance with regulations.

Inspection Process and Focus Areas
Law enforcement personnel conduct inspections at designated weigh stations, temporary sites, and during mobile patrols. These inspections aim to verify compliance with federal, state, and provincial regulations. Data from the CVSA Roadcheck will be collected and released later.
Inspectors primarily conduct a comprehensive Level I inspection, which involves a detailed examination of vehicle components, driver documentation, and legal requirements. This inspection aligns with established North American standards and incorporates regulations from relevant governing bodies.

This year’s CVSA Roadcheck will place a particular emphasis on two key areas:

• Controlled Substance and Alcohol Possession: CVSA emphasizes establishing clear policies to prevent controlled substance and alcohol possession or use in the workplace. Inspectors will be vigilant in detecting and interdicting such driver violations during every inspection. Drivers will be inspected for operating credentials, hours-of-service documentation, and alcohol and/or drug impairment. If an inspector identifies driver violations that render them unfit to operate (e.g., lack of valid license), they will restrict the driver from continuing their journey.
• Tractor Protection and Anti-Bleed Back Systems: Inspectors will closely examine critical equipment related to tractor protection, such as the tractor protection valve, trailer supply valve, and anti-bleed back valve.
  
  

Preparing for Inspections
Motor carriers are encouraged to prepare their vehicles and drivers for these CVSA Roadcheck inspections, which are a valuable tool in the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) program. A carrier’s CSA scores can be impacted by inspections.
Here are some steps motor carriers can take to prepare:

• Keep equipment clean and maintained, with up-to-date annual inspections.
• Have drivers conduct thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections.
• Weigh the vehicle.
• Ensure drivers obey the speed limit and drive safely.
• Have proper ELD documentation in the vehicle.
• Have drivers wear their seatbelt.
• Have drivers be courteous and cooperative to inspectors.
  
  

By implementing these measures, motor carriers can contribute to safer roads and potentially improve their CSA scores.